This basic ‘concentrated’ screenwash is sold by the well-established ‘High Street’ motoring retailer. Despite a pleasant smell, Halfords’ screenwash provided negligible anti-freezing properties. It was also a very poor performer in the oil shift test, although it was better than water alone.

Cold weather protection: 0/5

Oil clearing ability: 1/5

Smell: 3/3

FINAL SCORE: 4/13

WYNN’S ANTI-INSECT SCREEN-WASH

Typical selling price: £0.99 for 250ml (**£3.96 per litre**)

Although famous for its engine additives, American company, Wynn’s, also markets several screenwashes. No anti-freeze properties were promoted, which explains the Anti-Insect formulation’s poor performance in the freezer test. Its oil shifting ability was slightly superior to the Halfords Screen Wash and it possessed a pleasant, faintly bubble-gum odour. Its use will not damage the polycarbonate plastics of most modern headlamp lenses.

The German Sonax car care range has gained respect as a high-quality brand but its screenwash offered no anti-freezing protection at all. At the time of testing, no alternative Sonax screenwash is available in the UK for winter conditions. Supplied with insufficient product for testing, it was impractical to mix the solution in 50/50 dilutions for the oil test but the product was moderately effective at shifting the film and it possessed virtually no odour.

Owned by Tetrosyl Limited of Lancashire, Bluecol’s dark blue solution emits a strong, chemical smell, which is safe to use with polycarbonate headlamp lenses. Our 50/50 solution had almost frozen solid in the freezer but the undiluted sample was unaffected. It was capable of removing a degree of oil film from the windscreen but it was penalised heavily for its strong odour.

Produced for the French TotalFinaElf oil company and sold throughout the UK’s network of Total-liveried garages and petrol stations, Total All Seasons Screenwash’s 50% diluted mixture had almost frozen solid in our freezer but the undiluted product was unaffected. While its performance in the oil-shift test equalled that of Bluecol Screen Wash, at least All Seasons is perfumed.

Cold weather protection: 2/5

Oil clearing ability: 2.5/5

Smell: 2/3

FINAL SCORE: 6.5/13

WYNN’S SUPER CONCENTRATED SCREEN-WASH 21+

RRP: £1.49 for 250ml. (**£5.96 per litre**)

This product performed very strongly in the freezer tests. No wonder it was used by Max Adventure for their vehicles in the Arctic! It will neither harm polycarbonate lenses nor paintwork. The product’s excellent cold weather protection was marred by an average performance in the oil shift test. The strong anti-freezing ability also came at a price, a very strong chemical odour, which was not masked effectively by the synthetic lemon perfume.

Based in the UK, Comma Oil and Chemicals has diversified into automotive fluids and cleaning products. All Seasons Screen Wash’s 50/50 mixture developed a mushy consistency in the freezer but the undiluted sample was unaffected. The results of the oil test were above average but the product scored maximum points in the ‘scent’ test. The ‘apple fragrance’ was not overpowered by the chemicals. Comma UK stated that the product is compatible with polycarbonates, as is its higher-strength Xstream alternative.

As its name suggests, Xstream is Comma’s heavy-duty screenwash and it lives up to its repute, by offering one of the best performances in the freezer test. While it also posted a strong performance in the oil shifting experiment, it lagged behind the top two products. Xstream has a modest odour, which is neither unpleasant nor overpowering.

Although the Letchworth-based company is better known for its car-care and cleaning products, it does retail a high-quality screenwash. The pink-coloured solution possesses a moderate and inoffensive smell, is polycarbonates compatible and posted a strong performance in our freezer test, although it could not equal Comma Xstream. However, its performance in the oil shift test was considerably better than Comma, removing almost all of the emulsion from the glass.

Decosol, now part of Selden Research Ltd, markets a dual-action performance screenwash that doubles as a de-icer, with its folding spout and squeezable bottle. Both 50/50 and neat concentrations were unaffected by our freezer tests and outperformed rivals in the oil-shifting trial, by removing almost all of the emulsion from the windscreen. For such a powerful product, it possesses only a light chemical smell, which is far from overpowering. Our main criticism is its relatively high cost.

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